Seed-planter.



N0. 556,705. Patentd Allg. 28, |900. C. w. WARNER.

SEED PLANT-EH.

(Application filed oct. 12, 1898,)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 650,705. Patented Aug. 2a, |900.

C. W. WARNER.

SEED PLANTER.

(Application led Oct, 12, 1898.) .(Nn Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Un'rrnn STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

onARLESw.` WARNER, on MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SEED-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,705, dated August 28, 1900.

Application iiled October 12, 1898. Serial No. 693,329| (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known I, CHARLES W. WARNER,v of Melrose, county of Middlesex, Stateof'Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Seed-Planters, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to planters; and it has vfor its object to improve and simplify the construction of the same in several particulars, having special reference to the device for controlling the delivery of the seed from the hopper and also to providing for the easy removal of the hopper and seed-conducting shoe, whereby the apparatus may be adapted for use as a cultivator by the application thereto of the usual cultivator-teeth.

In accordance with this invention the seedhopper has an egg-shaped exit, and a feedregulating plate is pivoted to turn beneath Isaid hoppeighaving a number of holes through it of different sizes, any one of which may be brought into position beneath the egg-shaped exit, and means are provided for turning said perforated feed-regulatin g plate to bring any one of the holes into any position relative to said exit, to thereby present an opening for the delivery of the seed whichwill be the fullsize of the hole in said plate or which willbe of any less dimensions, being a portion or part of any one of said holes,) and means are provided for securing said perforated feed-regulating plate in whatever position it may be set.

IIeretofore the perforated feed-regulating plate, which is located beneath the hopper and which is provided with a number of different-sized holes, has been turned regular or predetermined distances to bring any one of the holes into correct position beneath the exit of the hopper, and thereby present a delivery-opening of a size corresponding to the size of the hole in the plate, and te vary the size of such opening additional devices have Vbeen provided; but herein the means employed for securing the perforated feed-regulating plate in pcsition has the capability of holding said plate in any desired position relative to the exit of the seed-hopper.

The agitating-nger, which is contained in the seed-hopper, has its pivot located above and in front of the front edge of the exit, so that said finger may depend from its support and work to and fro from a pointbeginning at the front edge of the `exit and ending some little distance back of the rear edge of said exit. In practice I find that an agitating-finger having such a movement to be the best suited for the purpose or function that it is intended to subserve. The support for the agitating-finger is preferably adjustable to different elevations and also laterally.

A scraper is provided forthe ground-Wheels, which is secured to the main frame by a bolt,

and said bolt passes through the frame, and

two shoulders are provided, one above and the other below the frame. The shoulder which is located above the frame may be formed on the `under side of the scraper, and the shoulder which is located beneath the frame may be formed on the nut, yet it isimmaterial Whether' the shoulders are so formed, so long as they are on the bolt to be held in place by it.

The seed-hopper, which is mounted on the frame, has at one side an open slotted ear which asirides the shoulder on the bolt, being heldin position beneath thescraper and when so held is readily removable, and a perforated earis provided at the opposite side of said hopper, and a bolt passes through the main frame and through the perforation of said ear for secnrin g the said hopper in place, said bolthaving on it a thumb-nut which may be easily removed to allow of the removal of the seedhopperl Without disturbing adjoining parts. The seed-conducting shoe, which is located beneath the main frame, has also an open IOO holding saidadjustable member in whatever position it may be set also constitutes a specific feature of this invention.

Figure 1 shows in side elevation a `planter embodying this invention. View of the planter shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section lof the seed-hopper and seed-conducting sh'oe and means for holding said parts on the frame. Fig. 4 is a detail of the axle which is adapted to receive upon it the ground-Wheels. Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the scraper-bar, showing particularly the shoulders which are engaged bythe seedliopper and seed-conducting shoe. Fig. '7 is a horizontal section of the seed-conducting shoe. Fig. 8 is a detail of the agitating-finger. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of the support for the agitating-iinger, showing also a portion of the wall of the hopper to which it is attached. Fig. 10 is a detail showing the exit of the seed-hopper and a diagram of the perforated plate beneath it.` Fig. 11 is a plan View of the seed-hopper containing a modified forml of agitator to be referred to. Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail showing a portion of the wall of the hopper and one of the supports for the agitator. Fig. 13 is a detail showing the axle having thereon two groundwheels. Fig. 14 is a detail of the toothed sector, having characters on it, which is provided for operating the feed-regulating plate.

The seed-hopper a, herein shown as oval in cross-section, is placed on the main frame and secured in place by means to be hereinafter described, and said hopper has its exit et 'made egg-shaped (see Figs. 2 and 10,) and beneath said seed-hopper a perforated feedregulating plate a2 is located, having a number of perforations of different sizes arranged concentrically on the plate and so disposed relative to the exit of the hopper as to be brought into position beneath said exit as the plate is turned. The feed-regulating plate has formed or provided on it a number of teeth a3, also arranged concentrically to its pivot, and a sector a4 is pivoted to one side wall of the hopper, the teeth of which engage said teeth a3, so that as the sector is turned the feed-regulating plate will be correspondingly turned.

The sector a4 has a finger-piece a5 projecting from it for turning it. A thumb-screw ab' passes through a curved slot in the sector (see dotted lines, Fig. 1) and into the side wall of the seed-hopper, which is employed as a means of securing said sector in whatever position it may be set. By providing a sec- -toror any equivalent means for turning the feed-regulating plate, and a thumb-screw, as a, by which said sector may be secured in any different position, it will be seen that the feed-regulating plate may be moved as much or little as desired and maybe securely held in whatever position it may be set.

'This sector may have formed on it any suit- Fig. 2 is a planA able characters to adapt it for use as an indicator, as represented inFig. 14.'Y

The largest hole of the series formed in the perforated Vplate a2 is of substantially the same size as the largest circle which can be described in the egg-shaped exit a', and when said hole is brought into position directly beneath said exit-it will be seen that an opening the full size of said hole will be presented for-the delivery of the seed; but by moving said perforated plate a2 a short distance ina direction toward the small end of the egg-shaped hole the size of the opening for the escape of the seed will be very materially reduced. Thus the size of the opening for the delivery of the seed may be varied at will.

By providing an egg-shaped exit in the hopper the result above described may be readily accomplished, and the reduced openings will be more nearly circular in shape then if the exit of the hopper were made truly circular. By providing the feed-regulating plate a2 with a number of different-sized holes, circular in shape, any one of which may be brought into any different position desired beneath an egg-shaped exit in the hopper, it will be seen that a delivery-opening more or less circular in shape can be obtained for the diiferent kinds or sizes of seed, whereas if but a single hole is provided in said plate, which is made large enough for the large seed, it will be observed that when the size of the delivery-openingis reduced to a proper size for the small seed by adjustment of the plate the delivery-opening will be more or less triangular in shape, which is objectionable.

An agitating-iinger 1)(see Figs. 1, 3, and 8) is mounted on the pivot-bolt b', which passes through a support c, and an arm b2 is also mounted Von said bolt, and said finger l) and arm b2 are clamped together by the nut on said bolt. The contiguous faces of the 1inger and arm may be serrated to interlock, and the finger thus secured to the arm may be adjusted relatively thereto. The arm b2 projects forward through aslot in the top of the front side wall of the hopper and is made of suitable length so that it-s forward extremity is brought into engagement with projections on the ground-wheel, and said arm b2 serves as the actuating-arm for the agitating-iinger. The bolt b, which serves as the pivot for the agitating-finger and also as a means of adjustably connecting said finger to its actuating-arm, passes through a support c, as before stated, which is herein shown as an arm projecting more or less horizontally into the hopper and secured to or formed integral with a plate d, (see Figs. 3 and 9,) and said plate c' is adapted to bear against the inside of the front wall of the hopper and is located over a vertical slot 20, formed in said front wall of the hopper, and said plate c/ is pivotally connected to a plate c3, located on the IOO IIC

curved slot 4:0, is loosened.

outside of the front wall of the hopper by means of a bolt c2,passing through said plates.

The outer plate c3 has formed on `its inner side a vertical rib which enters'said vertical slot 20 and serves to hold it in an upright position. Another bolt 30 passes through a hole in the plate c and through a slot 40 in the plate c3, which serves as a means of rigidly securing said plates together by clamping them to the hopper, and the slot 40 in the plate c is located above the pivot c2 and curved concentrically to said pivot c2 in order that said plate c', bearing the arm c, may be` adjusted relatively to the plate c3 when the nut on the bolt 30, which passes through said Lateral adjustment of the agitating-nger relative to the exit is thus provided for.

The plate c3 is capable of vertical adjustment `in the vertical slot provided for it by loosening the nut on the aforesaid clamping-I movement produces more efficient results than if the finger worked beyond both edges of the eXit--that is, in both directions.

In Fig. 11 the agitating-finger b is secured by means of a set-screw 50 to a horizontal shaft 51, which is journaled in plates c c3,

adjustably secured to the opposite side wallsA of. the hopper, said plates being made substantiallythe same as the plates c' and c3 (shown in Figs. 3 and 9) and capable of the same adjustments relative to the hopper, and

in this modified form it will be seen that thefinger b may be adjusted on the shaft 51 by `operating the set-screw 50 and also may be held in different elevations by vertical adjustment of the shaft 5l.

cl represents a scraper-bar, which is secured to the main frame and is employed to scrape the ground-wheels, which are mounted upon the outer ends of the axle, as shown in Fig. 13, and said scraper-bar is secured to the main frame by a bolt` d', passing through it and through the frame, and said bolt has on it above the frame a shoulder d4, formed with two opposite straight parallel sides, as shown in Fig. 6, and said bolt has on it below the `frame a shoulder cl3, which may be likewise formed with two opposite straight parallel sides. The scraper-bar is secured to the main frame by said bolt d', and when secured in place the shoulder cl3 bears against the under side of the main frame, and the shoulder d4 bears against the upper side of `said frame.` The shoulder d* is herein shown as formed integral with the scraper-bar, and-the shoulder d3 is shown as formed integral with a nut on the bolt; but this is immaterial as longas said shoulders are disposed on the bolt d, one

forated ear d6, which receives a` bolt di, which passes up through the main frame, said bolt having on its upper screw-threaded end ,which projects above saidear d6, a thumb-nut ds. The ear d6 is preferably open-slotted, but not necessarily so formed, and hence is referred to as perforated Thel seed-conducting shoe e, which is located beneath the main frame, has formed or provided-at its front end contiguous the main frame an open-slotted ear e, which astrides the shoulder 0l8 on the bolt el and has at its rear end., contiguous the main frame, aperforated ear e5, which receivesthe aforesaid bolt di. By removingthebolt el?,l which maybe done by removing the thumb-nut d8, the seedhopper and conducting-shoe `may beth be readily removed without loosening the bolt d', as the open-slotted ears d5 and e" merely astride the shoulders cl3 d4 and are not held clamped in position by the bolt d', and when said parts are removed the apparatus `may be used as a cultivator by supplying the usual cultivator-teeth. It will therefore be seen that the seed-hopper and seed-conducting shoe and parts borne by them may be readily removed without the employment of a wrench or other tool. Y

The seed-conducting-shoe @has a verticallyadjustable extension f, which is made of a shape to correspond with the shape of the shoe and to slide telescopically thereon to vary the length of the shoe and to hold said adjustable or movable member fin different positions. A yoke or frame f is secured to said member f, which passes around the back side of the shoe e, and a set-screwf2 passes through said yoke or frame, which impinges upon said shoe e to thereby hold the member f in place. The bolts or rivets by means of which the yoke or frame is secured to the memberf project inwardly a short distance, as at 2, Fig. '7,A

and enter and follow along in vertical grooves which are formed or provided in the sidesof the shoe` e. 4

i represents the axle, which is made quite long to support either a middle ground-wheel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or two end groundwheels, as shown in Fig. 13, and said axle, as

lherein shown, (see Fig. 4,) has mounted upon it at each end abushing fl', upon which the end ground-wheels will be mounted, and the IZO two arms of the main frame, (see dotted lines,

Fig. 4,) are placed next to said bushings to thereby hold the bushings in place. Between said arms a divided bushing i2 is mounted on the aXle, which receives upon it the middle ground -Wheel, said divided bushing being held in proper position by the two arms of the frame. The axle i is made as a bolt, having on it a head at one end and a nut at the other, so that it may be conveniently withdrawn whenever desired.

The divided bushing 712 ft2 is made long enough to ll the space between the arms of the frame, and in order that one of the end ground-wheels may be employed as the middle ground-Wheel whenever desired each part ofv said divided bushing has formed on it a boss @'10, adapted to bear against the hub of the wheel, it being observed that the distance between said bosses 1110 is the same as the lengthof either bushing i'.

The plate b3 is attached to the actuatingarm h2, which passes beneath the exit of the hopper and which is employed to open and close said exit, and said plate is shown as having a hole through it of a shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of the exit. The plate b5, having a hole through it for controlling the delivery of the seed, moves in and out in a guideway provided for it beneath the exit of the hopper and said guidewayis formed at the bottom of the hopper and extends a suitable distance at the rear side of the exit, and it is along this part of the guideway that the perforated end of the plate b3 works.- When the hole in the plate h3 is in position for the delivery of seed from the hopper, it registers with the exit, and said plate b3 is then moved rearwardly or inwardly to close said exit, and during such movement of the plate its perforated end portion passes to the rear of the exit, as shown in Fig. The guideway at the rear of the exit is formed with imperforate top and bottom walls, so that any seed which may be carried rearwardly by the rearward movement of the plate will be retained in the opening of the plate, and thereby prevented from escaping until the plate has been again moved forward and the opening brought into proper position for the delivery of the seed.

I claim-- l. In a planter, a frame, a headed bolt secured thereto having on it a shoulder above the frame, a seed-hopper mounted on said frame, having at one side an open slotted ear which astrides said shoulder, and having at the opposite side an ear, and a bolt passing through said ear having on it a thumb-nut, substantially as described.

2. 4In a planter, a headed bolt passing through the frame having on it-a shoulder above the frame, a seed-hopper mounted on the frame having at one side an open slotted ear which astrides said shoulder, and having at its opposite side a perforated ear, and a seed-conducting shoe located beneath said frame having an open slotted ear at one side which astrides said bolt and having a perforated ear at the opposite side, and a bolt passing through the frame and through the perforated ears on the seed-hopper and a seed-conducting shoe, substantially as described.

3. In a planter, a frame, a bolt secured to said frame having on it a shoulder located beneath the frame, a seed-conducting shoe located beneath said frame ,having an openslotted ear at one side which astrides said shoulder and having a perforated ear at the opposite side, and a bolt passing through the perforation of said ear having on it a thumbnut, substantially as described.

4. In a planter, a seed-hopper having an exit, a feed-regulating plate turning beneath said hopper having a number of differentsized holes through it adapted to be brought beneath the exit of the hopper, teeth formed on said plate and a pivoted sector engaging said teeth, substantially as described.

5. In a planter, a seed-hopper having an exit, a feed-regulating plate turning beneath said hopper having a number of differentlysized, holes through it adapted to be brought beneath the exit of the hopper, teeth formed on said plate and a pivoted sector engaging said teeth having characters thereon adapting it to serve as an indicator, substantially as described.

6. In a planter, a seed-hopper having an exit, a perforated feed-regulating plate beneath said hopper, a pivoted sector engaging said plate having a slot, anda thumb-screw for holding said sector in any desired position to vary the size ot' the exit, substantially as described.

7. In a planter, a seed-hopper, an agitatingfinger within it, a support therefor and means for securing said support to the side wall of the hopper and for adjusting it to different elevations, substantially as described.

8. In a planter, a seed-hopper, an agitatingfinger within it, a support therefor adjustable to different elevations and also adjustable laterally, substantially as described.

9. In a planter, a seed-conducting shoe composed of two parts movable one with relation to the other to lengthen and shorten the shoe, and means for securing the movable member of said shoe in dierent positions consisting of a yoke or frame attached to said movable member having inwardlyprojecting studs which follow in grooves formed in the stationary member and a set screw passing through said yoke or frame which engages said stationary member, substantially as described.

10. In a planter, a frame having two arms, a long bolt passing through said arms, a divided bushing 2, i2 on said bolt between said arms and.y bushings t" on the projecting ends of said bolt, substantially as described.

ll. In a planter, a frame having two arms, a long bolt passing through said arms, a divided bushing i2, 2, on said bolt between said IOS IIO

arms, each part of said divided bushing hava rear of the exi-tand having imperforate top ing on it a boss im, and bushings t on the proand bottom Walls, substantially as described.

jecting ends oi said bolt, substantially as def scribed.

12. In a planter, a seed-hopper having an exit, a plate b3 attached to an actuating-le# ver for opening and closing said exit, said plate having a hole through it corresponding to the exit of the hopper, and a gudeway in Io which said plate Works extending beyond the l In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES W. WARNER. 

